| November 15, 2002
Have you ever been to Bali and been amazed by the extraordinary
friendliness and spirituality of the Balinese people?
Did your heart ache when you read about the terrorist
bombs in Kuta on 12th October? Did you wish you could
do something to help?
Well a group of prominent Australian surfers living
in Bali have combined forces with Balinese citizens
and doctors to form a non-profit Foundation dedicated
to drastically improving the medical and hospital facilities
available on Bali, to benefit both the local Balinese
and visiting tourists alike.
Named "Humanitarian Action for Mother
Earth" (or in Indonesian "Yayasan
Kemanusiaan Ibu Pertiwi", shortened to YKIP) it
is a non profit registered foundation, absolutely determined
that something good must come out of the terrible tragedy
of the Bali bombs. So far over US$40,000 has been raised
but much more is needed.
Australian surfer Kevin Lovett is one of the key members
of the Foundation. Kevin is renowned as the co-discoverer
of Nias in 1975 along with John Geisel and Peter Troy,
and is an environmental campaigner as featured in the
recent SBS TV programmes documenting his return to Nias
after 25 years.
Kevin says the YKIP Foundation is committed to the
advancement of medical and hospital services in Bali
based on the democratic principles of accessibility
for all people according to each person’s need,
irrespective of each person’s race, religion or
nationality. Other Aussie surfers supporting YKIP include
Rip Curl Indonesia, Surfer Girl, Indo Surf & Lingo,
and many others. The Australian Consulate has endorsed
the Foundation which is also working with the local
highly respected Rotary organization.
The Foundation has 3 major Aims in the short term –
- To assist in the assessment of the present state
of medical facilities on the Island and to immediately
help upgrade human resources and training as requested.
This will be in conjunction with a major Australian
hospital and RSUP . Sanglah in Denpasar.
- To produce a Trauma Counselling Video to help locals
affected by the bombing
- Establish the Bali Children's Fund to assist the
ongoing educational needs of the children of victims
and causalities of the bombs.
The YKIP Foundation’s Board of Directors is very
mindful of the need to be completely accountable with
the highest ethical standards in handling donated funds.
Therefore, the Foundation has established a completely
independent Supervisory Audit Board in order to ensure
that all donated funds are used for their intended purpose
and in a completely transparent manner. All the money
will be used in Bali, unlike some other funds. Donors
can see their names listed on the website – www.ykip.org/donors/monetary.asp
A high priority for the Foundation is to raise funds
to build a Trauma Centre attached to a major hospital
in Bali. Dr Anak Agung Ngurah Asmarajaya, Head of the
Plastic Surgery Dept. at Sanglah and member of the Balinese
royal family of Peliatan, has for many years dreamed
of building a specialist trauma unit in Bali. But the
funds were not available for his vision so on October
12th he faced this massive medical crisis using little
more than the heroic efforts of the hospital's staff.
Dr Asmarajaya says perhaps as many as 10 more lives
could have been saved if the proposed Trauma Centre
had been available to treat victims of the Bali bombing.
The Trauma Centre will also serve as a permanent and
fitting memorial to the men and women from many countries
who lost their lives or were so badly injured in this
terrible disaster. Their loss will not be in vain.
Another early YKIP initiative will be the production
of a 30 minute Trauma Counselling Video for the Balinese
community utilising the medium of traditional Wayang
Kulit shadow puppet theatre. The video will be shown
on local television, screened in “banjar”
neighbourhood association meetings, in schools and public
radio broadcasts. The proposal is currently before USAID
for funding.
There is also a planned YKIP Bali Children’s
Fund in conjunction with teachers from the Bali International
School, Dyatmika School and Australian International
School. Money will be provided specifically to enhance
educational opportunities for children who have lost
a parent (or had a parent permanently incapacitated)
in the Oct. 12 bombing. Funds permitting, this commitment
will cover each child’s entire schooling needs
from the present right through to university.
Financial donations to the YKIP Foundation are urgently
needed now to fund the work of improving the medical
and hospital facilities on Bali. Assistance provided
means YKIP is one step closer to achieving this vital
objective. Donations to the Foundation may be made on
the web site: www.ykip.org
The YKIP Foundation gratefully acknowledges the invaluable
support and assistance of the Government of the Republic
of Indonesia, the Governor of Bali, YKIP’s founders
including Jo Rosarius, Dr.Anak Agung Asmarajaya, Ibu
Ari Murti, and Freddy Subiyanto, and the countless Balinese,
Indonesian and Expatriate residents who have worked
so selflessly and tirelessly to relieve human suffering
since October 12th.
ENDS
For further information regarding media interview
opportunities with YKIP directors, contact contact Kevin
Lovett ph.: 62 - 361-730 826 or 62 - 812 3808 095, email:
reachout@dps.centrin.net.id
JOURNALISTS PLEASE NOTE
The YKIP Foundation would greatly appreciate the publicizing
of the Foundation’s website, www.ykip.org in all
media stories in order to encourage donations for the
early construction of the YKIP Trauma Centre in Bali. |
